Warm Fuzzy's

So my last blog was kind of a downer, and I promised new pictures of Mia. Those of you who are parents, or grandparents, all understand the difficulty in selecting a picture to post. Heck, we all know our kids/grandkids are the cutest, and each picture is the best ever!

This should explain why I have added quite a few.


Catherine put Mia's "hair ?" in piggytails.



Mia loves shoes. Usually one at a time, but when she agrees to wear two, they very seldom are a matching pair!


Playing outside at Memaw's house, it was hot, and a cool drink was called for.


When you are 19 months, and have a mouthfull of water, what better way to make use of it than to spit it out and water the grass!



Remember the movie "Cool Hand Luke".......this is "Cool Head Mia"




Mia has beautiful green eyes, like her mother. I think you could call this her "mischievous" look. That is much more politically correct than saying she was being a "toot" !


Catherine took several really cute pictures on this day with Mia in the play area. It is all about the eyes in this one.

And last but not least, Tata and MiMi. Tata is what Mia calls Catherine and MiMi is what she calls herself. They were playing in the car. Mia loves to drive up the driveway from Memaw and Grand Dads house.

Not so Much Fun

After 48 years, I finally got called to jury duty when I didn't have a nursing baby, or wasn't a full time college student. So, with willing heart I went downtown Houston. That is not true. I willingly went to jury duty, I was not willing to go downtown Houston, but I had no choice. Which lead me to riding the Metro bus for the first time ever in my life. After a full day of questions and such by the judge and both sides of the attorneys, I got picked. Let me say, I was the one and only one who wanted to be there and wanted to be selected for jury duty. We were told the trial could take a full week, it was a criminal case. I saw it as an adventure and a privilege, and I know that if I were accused of doing something wrong, or I was taking someone to court for something they did wrong, I would want someone like me on the jury.......someone who did not mind being there! Enough of my soap box........


Listening to the testimony, hearing the evidence, listening to real live CSI type of policemen, riding metro, visiting with fellow jurors..............all of that was exactly what I thought it would be like.

The case was Aggravated robbery. Which is robbery with a deadly weapon. Punishable 5 to 99 years in prison. It took us less than 30 minutes to deliberate on guilt or innocence. They had finger prints along with the eye witness(the victim in this case).

It took us over 4 hours to deliberate on the punishment, and honestly we could have gone on for days, for we were VERY divided at first. After much discussion and cussin' and debate, we settled on 10 years in prison.

As jury foreman, I was the one who told the judge we had come to a verdict and what it was. I made sure as the sentence was being read, I looked the young man and his family in the eyes. The judge read our verdict out loud, he and his family cried some more, and they lead him off in handcuffs.

We walked back to the jury room and I felt as emotionally drained and as emotionally confused as the day I stood in front of the judge to get my divorce. (It actually took me a while to place where I had felt like that before............I kept thinking "childbirth" and going "nope" in my head, and then "car wreck" and going "nope" again, and then like a punch in the gut............divorce.

The finality of both decisions. The life changes brought on by both decisions. The sadness of the whole affair. These are the common threads. I was on my way to really breaking down and sobbing, like I did after the judge basically said" I now pronounce you NOT man and wife any longer"...............but what saved me was both the defense attorney and the prosecuting attorney coming into the jury room and speaking with us all. We had done a good thing. We had made the right decision. Everything was as it should be. Once again, similar to "THE END" of my marriage.

I learned a whole lot. I once again appreciate my country and my rights as a citizen of this great country. Next time, I just hope its traffic court!



As soon as I catch up on work, I have some new great pictures of Mia.......

Catherine has a Blog

Catherine, being the thoughtful person she is, realized that it would be a great way for people to know what is going on with her while she is far far away at Brown. She has created her own blog. So, if you are interested check her out at:



http://catherineatbrown.blogspot.com

Mia saying "I love you"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nkUWNKR1Fv4

Likes and Dislikes

I find the whole personality development thing very interesting. Not interesting enough to take a class or read a book about it.....just interesting enough to think about it on occasion. Since I do not want to read a book or actually LEARN the specifics, I am only able to go on my own experiences. So here is what I think..............it must be around the 18 month old age that we develop specific likes and dislikes about what we wear. It seems odd that at such a young age, we humans have the cognitive ability to develop specific likes and dislikes about clothing choices. We have all seen the small children out and about, wearing clothes and accessories that in societies eyes, should not be worn either together, or at least out in public. So this is the really cool thing about being 18 months old, we have developed enough of a personality to have VERY specific likes and dislikes regarding our wardrobe, BUT.........we are not yet held within the constraints that society would place on us.


Mia loves these cotton striped stockings. She specifically chose to wear this outfit down to her great grandparents (Memaw and Grand dad). She loves wearing just one shoe (or boot as the case may be). The stocking cap (two sizes too small) was in my opinion, the cherry on top! It is like pink is the theme, but I think the black rain boot indicates that there may be a little "skater" kid just waiting to pop out!

Mirror Twins

We have been thinking about twins a whole lot around my house lately. Some dear friends of ours had twins, and after two months in the NICU they finally both got to come home. Anyone who has ever had a baby, knows the hard work, sleepless nights and joyful love you feel that happens when you bring that new gift home. Now imagine all of it exponentially. I do not believe that all of those emotions just double with twins, I think it must be much more.



Catherine just happened to take this picture this week-end. So, here is the closest thing to twins that we have......mirror twins! Mia playing with Rex.

Mia

Mia's other grandmother, Juda, takes some wonderful pictures. She has shared some of the photos with Jennifer before, but this is the first one I have gotten digitally, and it is so sweet and special. Thank you Juda and thank you Mia.

Star Treks

Today was Catherine's graduation from High School. For a while now, some folks have been asking me if I was going to cry, after all, my "baby" was graduating. And today was no different. I heard, are you sad? are you going to cry? are you nervous ? (She was giving the salutatory speech)...blah, blah, blah, blah. I sat and pondered for several hours ( I went two hours early to save seats for the rest of the family) about my NOT feeling sad at all. I even began to say things to myself like "maybe you are dead inside".....I spoke with another mom, who said she cried the entire year of her youngest child. I am thinking to myself, "wow, you should have seen a psychologist for that depression, or separation anxiety". Then , she says, she was "crying because she was so happy".

OK, so I get that I guess. I know it is done, I have just never experienced that phenomenon myself. I have cried at happy times, BUT, truth be told, I was not crying because I was so happy...............let me try and explain a little better. Each time, right after each of my babies were born I cried. I was happy, beyond words. Happy they were healthy, happy labor was over. But, the crying was because I was exhausted, emotionally and physically, and hormonally imbalanced!

So, back to the issue. I did not cry. I was and am over joyed with the accomplishments of my daughter Catherine. I am a proud parent. I am so excited for her that the limitations that high school puts on her, are now gone, and that the world is now hers to explore and learn from and I hope, contribute to. I am excited for her to keep setting new goals and finding those rewarding. I am excited for her that she can now go beyond what boundaries this conservative mom, and this small town have had to offer. Oh, do not get me wrong. I think this mom and this town will have served her well in her future. She will always love the open spaces and farmland and corn growing as high as an elephants eye, and the stars on a clear night, and she will always love me. But, I want her to learn to love New England in the fall, Rhode Island in the winter, and New York in the spring time.

I want her to grow to be the adult God intended her to be from the beginning of time. I am anxious to get to meet and know that adult. To laugh and learn from that adult. I want her to find someone who loves her, like my mom and dad love each other. (They will be married 60 years this year). I want her to have and see and do and go every where and anywhere she has ever or will ever dream of going and seeing and doing.

I can not cry with regret, cry with sadness, or cry with happiness. I am only emitting vibes of exuberant anticipation.

I want what Spock wants for her........."to live long and prosper".

Pictures of Things I have already Mentioned

So I talked of the wedding we went to in Wimberly. I have finally put the photos here for you to see. Since this site is titled "Perfectly Mia" it is appropriate that these photos include her. This is Jennifer with her friend Rex, and Mia.






I do not have a picture of the great cake, or the beautiful wedding. What I do have is this blurry picture of Jennifer, Rex and Joyce..... So, this photo will have to do.



And now for a picture from graduation. I want to know who is the short,old, fat lady in my cap and gown?


Last but not least, a photo from the trip to Brown University that Catherine and I took. I did appreciate the history and the buildings that are older than Methuselah, and this photo does nothing for what it truly looks like, but inside this building, is the most spectacular pipe organ (I think Catherine said it's a one of a kind in the US), and block wood paneling and oil paintings of people in the history of Brown. The inside actually reminded me of the great dining hall seen in the Harry Potter movies.

Cheerio's to Catching Up and Sliding Down

Today is my 48th birthday. I believe I like the idea of turning 50.

I did not realize how long it had been since I made an entry on this blog. Life has been very busy as it is with everyone. I seem to find time several times a day to read Jenny Hunts blog and keep an almost "stalking" watch for new pictures of her new tiny babies.

I will start with the most recent news and go backwards perhaps.

I found out on Thursday, May 3rd, my Aunt Kay passed away. I can not begin to tell you how sad I was. I have not seen my Aunt for many years, she has been living in California and I have had my life here in Texas. I always thought I would go there and see her again, and like many other plans I make, time just got away from me. My Aunt Kay is the grandmother of Corey,(daughter of Katy) whom I have previously talked about in my postings. For me, the passing of Aunt Kay is like the passing of my childhood. I loved Aunt Kay and Uncle George and all the warm family memories I have of growing up with them in my life. Uncle George was my mothers brother. Always a unique individual, and to a child, he was as tall as a giant redwood. As an adult, I realized that he was not that tall, he just wore his pants up to his armpits! This was the mildest of his "uniqueness". Aunt Kay had a laugh that always made me smile, and she called my daddy "Jimmy", and she and my Uncle George teased each other and made me laugh in doing so. I love you Aunt Kay and you will always be a part of my memories and my life.

Enough of the sad........

This weekend, May 5th, Jennifer and Mia and I went to Wimberly to see a friend get married. It was a beautiful wedding and the best wedding cake I have EVER had! Way to go Robin! I did not get a chance to talk to the bride, but if I had, I sure would have complemented her not only on her taste of cake, but husbands as well. I had a chance to see my dear friend Joyce. I love Joyce. She introduced me to someone as "her sweet friend, Jami". I laughed, because I know Joyce introduces everyone has "her sweet friend". Those of you who know me, I do not believe that "sweet" is a word you would use to describe me. I think Joyce uses that word, because she is sweet..............I admitted to being the "best" of her friends, meaning, not her"best friend, like BFF", but simply "the best"! This of course contradicted her introduction of me as being "sweet". But, thanks for trying Joyce!

This coming Saturday, May 12th, Jennifer and I will walk across the stage at Prairie View A & M University and accept our bachelor degrees in our chosen fields. Hers, psychology, mine, Management Information Systems (MIS). We will get to sit by each other, and walk one after the other............this I believe to be really really cool. I am excited. Not about sitting through the long and drawn out ceremony, but about sharing this day with my daughter. Jennifer has been accepted into the University of Houston's clinical psychology doctoral program, so her education is not over. I on the other hand, plan to take a break. Our plan as of today, is for me to stay home and watch Mia, while she attends school. This plan could change tomorrow, but as of today, this is it.

Jessica has changed jobs and is now in the IT department at the University of Texas. She is writing computer code and has a 6 month training period. I think she likes it just fine. She has a very nice boyfriend, and seems to be really happy. What more could a parent ask for?! Jessica has known Tommy, her boyfriend, since they were in pre-school, and so the irony of them dating now is funny. Isn't life just funny period.

Catherine and I went to Rhode Island April 17-19 to visit Brown University. It was an interesting trip. I think she will really love it there. The history of the college and the surrounding area offers days upon days of exploration. We have been more than blessed with the financing of her Ivy League education. As of today's date, she has been awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship, which will pay for her tuition up through and including her Masters and Doctorate if she so desires. She has also been awarded a scholarship from Brown that includes all living expenses. She found out this weekend that she received a Wal-Mart scholarship for $1000.00 and the George and Mary Josephine Hammon Scholarship, for the amount of $12,000.00 over 4 years. There are still a few pending, but these scholarships will mean that Catherine will not have to take out student loans to complete her education. For those of you who have student loans like I do, you know what a huge deal this is. Catherine's hard work in school and time spent completing the applications and essay's have paid off.

Catherine, Mighty Drum Major

Catherine is but a few months away from graduating ~ football season has come and gone. Her days of Drum Major are just memories. I am glad there are photos like this to help her remember the special moments, especially when she gets to be my age!

Feeding Time

I wonder why it is that we have to learn to eat with etiquette. I watch Mia learn to eat with a spoon and she has such a joyful experience being unexperienced! As adults, when we spill food on our shirts, we tend to feel like a baffoon. As you might can tell from these photos, Mia does not care that she has Banana Pie yogurt on her belly, nose, hands, or face. She does not care that the yogurt is dripping off the spoon, or that she forgot to pull the spoon from her mouth. In the most primal way,for her, eating is a joyful messy experience. Maybe when we feel stressed, we should all try putting a little yogurt on our bellys. I bet it would make you laugh!

How can I even show my face in public?

Confessions of an almost college graduate. My degree will be a business degree, my major is MIS, or Management Information Systems. I am suppose to be an IT person. I know nothing! I can not even figure out how to make this blogsite layout what I want..........so I am asking those of you who know to please share your knowledge with me. If you will scroll to the bottom of my blog, you will see a slide show. This is the only location I can get it where you can actually see the book. I have gone to the settings and template and all areas that seem to make sense. I have clicked and dragged until I do not want to drag anymore...........will some one please just FIX it!!!

Oh and here is a picture of Mia....

Friends and Family

Sometimes, if you are lucky enough, you met people in your life who you call friend. If you are really blessed, they become family. I think that those family members are the most special people in the world, because you were not born into it, you are not stuck with it, but instead you get to choose, and they also get to choose. So, this blog is dedicated to those people I have been blessed to met, who became friends, and many moons ago, crossed that river and became my family.

I have written about Jenny Hunt before. She is the other true girl friend besides Jackie I have known Jennifer to have for a long time. (see previous blog). Jennifer and Jenny became friends first, and then as God would have it, I was blessed with meeting and falling in love with her family. So I took them for my own. And there are no take backs here. This is a picture of when we went to Wimberly for JohnMike's wedding reception. JohnMike is Jenny's little brother. Jenny is 13 weeks pregnant here, but you can not tell. She found out a few weeks after this picture was taken that she is having twins!

Another thing I love about this picture, is if you look closely in the back ground you can see Jenny's mom's Christmas tree. That is right folks! It is a silver, metal tree ( the really old kind) and she even has the multicolored light wheel that shines on it. I love Joyce (Jenny's mom). I suppose the tree is just a reflection of Joyce. I wish there was a pink flamingo as the tree topper! If you ever need a sweet heart to embrace you, just go see Joyce. Her warmth is sent from God above I believe. I love you Joyce.

The other picture is of more of my chosen family. Mia is in the tub with her friend Ali. Ali is about 7 weeks older than Mia. Her mom is Quenby, and Quenby's mom and I went to college together. Becky (the mom) and I have been friends now for almost 30 years! Quenby is Jessica's age. Quenby lived with Catherine and myself for about a year. She is a sweet girl, who would carry a bug outside and set it free before she would squash it!

Becky is a warden at Gatesville Prison (for women). She gets to retire in about 6 months, about the time I have to go to work. Well, Becky deserves it. She has worked hard keeping the prisoners BEHIND bars! I love the idea that Becky and I are chosen family, and Quenby and Jessica are friends, and now, there is Mia and Ali. Three generations of chosen family is pretty special to me. Becky knew me when I was thin, and she thinks I was a snob when we first met, and I was just shy. I thought she a snoot, and come to find out she was just Becky…. Oh, and never ever ask Becky about what a "steady" job is........I love you Becky.

Mud, Mud, and more Mud

Outside is once again the theme here. Forgive me for not keeping this to one picture, but striving for being the model grandmother, I could not pick my favorite!

Flower Power

Mia is most happy when she is outside.

Sweet Big Eyes

This is one of the few pictures that we have of Mia so far that she is being still! Oh my goodness that is one BUSY baby! Her eyes look huge here. I think she reminds me in this picture of an Ewok from Star Wars. Like a big cute cuddley teddy bear!

Thanksgiving in a Trash Can

This is a little out of sequence, but I felt worth posting. What you see is a picture of the turkey that we cooked for Thanksgiving. It was cooked in a trash can (if interested, email me and I will be happy to explain more on that issue). Anyway, Catherine took this picture of the turkey before it was cooked. I thought the sun glasses was a nice touch! And the turkey was delicious!

Mia and "the UT Hat"

Mia has almost always seen her Great Grandparents with hats on. My mom(Memaw) and dad(Grand dad) work outside a lot, and they always wear some sort of head covering. They have a hat tree right by their entry door. Mia now thinks that Memaw and Grand dad should never be without their hat, even inside the house! The first thing she does when entering the house is reach for the hat tree, and grab a hat, and give Memaw hers and Grand dad his. This whole action/reaction is what prompted mom and dad to give her this University of Texas hat for her first birthday!

What exactly is bragging? and is it ever OK?

In case I have not shouted loud enough, or the roof tops been high enough, I would like to proclaim once and for all that my daughter Catherine Denee' Waldrop has been accepted to and will be attending Brown University in Rhode Island in August 2007! She will be the first person I have personally known (not to mention love) to attend and Ivy League college. Catherine applied under the early decision application, and she found out on Thursday, December 14, 2006 that she was accepted.

This is a link to the email letter she received. I do not know if you can open it or not, or even if anyone would care to....its way cool, no matter what!

http://mail.google.com/mail/?realattid=f_evps9wvc&attid=0.1&disp=attd&view=att&th=10f833943f383165

Catherine is a remarkable daughter. She will graduate (unless something awful happens) as Salutatorian of her class. Catherine is an officer for the National Honor Society. She has been the assistant drum major and head drum major, she plays the oboe, and taught herself to play the saxophone, so she could be in jazz band. She has traveled to China with an orchestra for two weeks, and walked on the Great Wall(for her sake, I will not mention what else happened on the Great Wall, but ask me in private and I will tell you). Catherine also won a national essay contest, and won an $8000.00 grant to fix up the Waller City Park. We had over 200 students and town folk show up and help create a park that kids now love to play on and in. There were several entries that won the grant money, but Catherine's project was judged best over all, and with that came a free concert for the community with Diana DeGarmo from American Idol fame. Catherine is also a member of a Venture Scout Crew, and has traveled with them to Arkansas for rock climbing and spelunking.

Now that is sounds like I have written an application letter, I would once again ask, what exactly is bragging, and is it ever ok?

I admit to being a proud mother. So shoot me!